Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
301. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the introduction of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland's fees on the community based education organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29913/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has wide-ranging responsibilities both in terms of the quality assurance of further and higher education and training providers and as an awarding body for certain providers, including many of those in the community and voluntary sector. QQI also has responsibility for safeguarding the standard and quality of its qualifications, all of which are included in the National Framework of Qualifications. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012, requires providers to demonstrate their capacity to develop and implement quality assurance arrangements and validate programmes of education and training. QQI must satisfy itself in this regard. The fee schedule introduced by QQI, and provided for under the legislation, reflects the costs of overseeing extensive quality assurance structures of this nature. Furthermore, the QQI fee should represent only a small part of the cost to a provider of delivering and maintaining high quality education provision.
